Parsnip Definition

pärsnĭp
parsnips
noun
parsnips
A biennial plant (Pastinaca sativa) of the umbel family, with yellow flowers and a long, thick, sweet, white root used as a vegetable.
Webster's New World
Its root.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
  • Pastinaca sativa

Other Word Forms of Parsnip

Noun

Singular:
parsnip
Plural:
parsnips

Origin of Parsnip

  • 16th century parsnepe, from Middle English passenep, corruption of a borrowing of Old French pasnaie by influence of nepe (“turnip"), from Latin pastinaca (“parsnip, carrot"), from pastinum (“two-pronged fork"); related to pastinare (“to dig up the ground").

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English pasnepe alteration (influenced by nep turnip) of Old French pasnaie from Latin pastināca from pastinum a kind of two-pronged dibble

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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